After many month of going to the dentist and enduring years of pain because of constant braces adjustment, it’s finally time to take it off!
This is the moment you’ve been anticipating. The very reason why you you’ve decided to wear dental braces in the first place, is so that, one day, you can literally have something to smile about.
Just like with putting braces on for the first time, taking it off may also cause a few apprehensions and worries. In order to appease this, talking it over with the orthodontist should help. Of course, it’s always good to ask others who have gotten braces and gather information, so that you would know what to expect.
Pain Associated with Getting Braces Off
Procedures like this always bear some pain because it’s still considered surgery. But weeks prior to its removal, the bands around the braces will no longer be tightened, thus pain is minimized. However, some pulling of the wires and brackets will be involved, which can be more uncomfortable, rather than painful. Pliers will be used to cut this and clipping sounds may be heard, adding to the discomfort.
When the wires are all out, the bonding agent will still be intact and the teeth will need to be smoothened using a high-speed apparatus that will also work to polish the enamel. The teeth will feel a bit slimy, as opposed to rough, and there may be some swelling of the gums. This usually goes away in a few days.
All in all, the whole experience should take about forty-five minutes to two hours to accomplish. And the procedure may already be familiar to you because the dentist does a similar process each and every time the braces are replaced.
Time to Wear Retainers
Taking the braces off doesn’t really end the whole process of wearing a form of contraption in your teeth because your orthodontist will still have to let you wear retainers.
You need to keep this on for a few more months to at least a year to give your teeth the chance to get used to their new positions. The teeth need to settle and hold, thus “retain”, in its place.
Depending on what the dentist has recommended, you may even have to wear the retainers as you sleep. If you don’t keep your retainer on, the teeth will once again shift, and you would have wasted your time and money getting all those dental work for nothing. This requires more dedication and perseverance on your part, as the outcome relies on your commitment.
You and your dentist should have discussed about what type of retainer to wear prior to the removal of braces. There are also several types and designs for this, but your orthodontist will be able to tell you the right one to use.
Unlike braces, though, retainers are almost unnoticeable since it is set on the top row and the line across the teeth isn’t actually distracting.
Foods to Eat
As with getting braces for the first time, care should be considered when it comes to eating food. Because the teeth are still sore at this point and since these still require some molding with the help of the retainer, soft food choices are better and safer to eat.